Arriving at the party Blaine was kind of relieved to find that Sam wasn't there yet. He had still to figure out how to handle seeing him again.
Blaine hadn't really met any of Sam's friends before. Except for Kurt who he actually met just the other night. Wait, had Sam tried to set him up with Kurt? Yes, of course he had been so hung up on his stupid fantasy of Sam being into him that the thought never crossed his mind. He really was oblivious sometimes. Anyway he and Kurt had gotten along great. And so they did tonight. He even found that he wasn't just being polite when he suggested that Kurt transfer to Dalton to escape his bully at McKinley, and told him it would be fun. It really would be fun to have a friend like that at school.
As one might have expected Puck had managed not only to get hold of some beer but also to smuggle it into the house. He had devised a cunning plan to keep it hidden from Artie's parents, who would come and check up on them every so often. Sam and Finn had brought tons of soda cans and the three of them were now chugging down as much of it as possible before filling the empty cans with beer. Sam found the plan to be both genius and hilarious; already on a high of bubbles and sugar.
Sam kept looking over to where Blaine was sitting with Kurt and some of the girls. He noticed that Blaine didn't have any beer, while he himself was a bit buzzed, okay maybe more than a bit. Was Blaine even having fun? What were they talking about anyway? Poor Blaine, he must be bored out of his mind by Kurt's endless rants about Vogue and whatnot. Blaine really ought to have a beer, or at least have some fun, dancing or... something. What had he been thinking when he wanted Blaine to meet Kurt? They weren't a good match at all, right? He should probably go over there to save his friend.
"Hey guys! Having fun?" Sam perched himself on the armrest of the couch Blaine was sitting on, effectively wedging himself in between Blaine and Kurt, his back halfway turned at the latter.
The dark-haired boy looked up and smiled at him - but what was it with his eyes tonight? - they seemed to have lost some of that spark Sam always saw there when Blaine would smile at him. "Hey Sam."
"How about we give Rachel a run for her money on the karaoke machine?" Kurt suggested craning his neck to look at Blaine.
"Yeah, I'm in," Sam was quick to declare.
"Blaine?" Kurt asked.
"Nah, I'll pass. I'm kinda tired." Blaine answered. "You guys go ahead though, I guess she's really earned a break by now." he added with a soft smile.
"So Sam, you and Quinn are the only ones to have beaten her, right? Maybe we should do a reprise of your infamous duet?"
"Hah, right, and I guess I owe you a duet, or you owe me one, but I doubt that Islands in the stream is what this party needs right now." A mischievous smile spread on Sam's lips "Let's do Spice Girls!"
"I thought you'd never ask!" Kurt twittered jokingly as they made their way across the room towards the stage, which was in fact just a corner.
Sam and Kurt's performance of Wannabe was a huge success, at least to the extent that such is measured in corny dance moves and the hysteric giggling and cheering of the crowd. Parts of the crowd anyway. Quinn did not look amused but Sam guessed, admittedly unfairly, that him having fun was just another thing she didn't approve of. Sam had tried and failed to find Blaine's face in the crowd during the song, and his heart sank when he saw his friend still sitting over on the couch appearing not to really pay attention to them.
After the song ended Sam walked up to Blaine and dropped down beside him on the couch. He draped a heavy arm around Blaine's shoulders. "Hey Blaaiine! Didn't you like our show?"
"Yeah, you were good," despite not having been able to bring himself to actually watch them, and despite all the silliness of the song, Blaine had noticed that Sam's voice was wonderful, "I'm just not really a fan though."
"You don't look like you're having any fun. You should be having fun!" Sam squeezed his shoulder a bit and leaned a bit closer, and added, in a loud whisper, "You wanna know a secret? I'mma tell you a secret, Blaine!"
Blaine really couldn't deal with any more of Sam's "secrets" today. "Sam, no. I'm just tired, I think I should go."
But Sam continued. "I wanted to sing that song with you," he scooted even closer and Blaine felt his side burning where Sam was pressed up against him. "It would have been waay funner!"
"Alright, Sam, you're drunk, and I'm gonna go," at that Sam tightened his grip around Blaine and rested his cheek against his shoulder. Drunken Sam was super cute, but also - Blaine being completely sober knowing full well that drinking as much as a drop would guarantee him to start crying again - frankly a bit annoying. Sam snuggled against his shoulder as he rambled on, "You're the best, Blaine. You're my best friend. You're so awesome! So so awesome!" And even though it was just drunken ramble his words hit Blaine right in the gut. He felt tears welling up in his eyes, he fought them back desperately as he released himself from Sam's half embrace and stood up to leave. He turned his head to meet Sam's beautiful earnest eyes, and with a weak smile he said "Yeah, you too. Goodnight Sam."
The few weeks remaining until Sectionals went by quickly. Blaine was really busy with the intensified Warblers practice on top of regular school work and activities. And of course he started spending a lot of time with Kurt after the latter transferred to Dalton. It was nice to hang out with Kurt. Simple. And not seeing Sam all that much made it so much easier to get over his crush. Or at least to ignore it; his heart still sped up noticeably whenever Sam would text or call him.
It was just a few days before the competition, and one of those rare occasions when Blaine actually had time to hang out with Sam. "Guess what I wanna do for your consolation price when we beat you at sectionals!" Sam demanded excitedly.
"When we beat you, you mean?"
"Hah, like that'll ever happen! No, we're gonna beat you. But guess now!" Sam insisted.
Blaine could really not guess what was on Sam's mind, but as he mused on it for a few moments a host of images of things he might want Sam to be doing for his consolation appeared in his head, he shook them away and laughed "No, tell me!"
"I'm gonna take you to the movies," Sam beamed.
Blaine looked down at his hands "Shouldn't you be taking Quinn?"
"Don't be silly, Blaine! She won't go with me. And besides it's way more fun to go with you." Blaine still just watched his friend, not sure what to make of all this. "She doesn't even like Harry Potter!"
With that Blaine pieced the puzzle together, and he was so excited "Yes! Deathly Hallows! Wow, I can't believe we haven't seen it yet."
Blaine was amazing! His voice so beautiful and he radiated so much joy and confidence up on that stage. The way Blaine's eyes sought his in the crowd put the widest smile on Sam's lips. He was funny and beautiful and... It wasn't weird to notice that about your best friend, right? Sam had really begun to think about Blaine as his best friend lately, even though they hadn't really spent that much time together in the past weeks. But that was all going to change tonight. He actually felt more excited about the movie than the competition.
As the song started even before Blaine saw where it was coming from he had goose bumps all over, as he turned around he was completely stunned. He couldn't think, damn, he couldn't even breathe as he watched Sam walk down those stairs. He was so beautiful, so breathtakingly agonizingly gorgeous. Sam's shirt clung to him so tightly that just looking at him, starting in his hands, a tingling sensation spread through Blaine's entire body, just as if he, at least so he imagined, were actually touching his chest. And then she appeared. The chemistry between them was unmistakable, even palpable. And of course it made perfect sense: the hot football player and his hot cheerleader girlfriend. They looked so good together and their voices went so beautifully with one another that it made him want to cry.